On Thursday, the Nationwide Council of State granted a state pardon to former Kano lawmaker Farouk Lawan.
Mr Lawan was jailed for taking bribes whereas serving because the chairman of a Home of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the fraud across the gas subsidy regime in 2012.
The previous lawmaker is amongst 4 ex-convicts President Bola Tinubu pardoned: Anastasia Nwaobia, Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Alanamu. Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, mentioned, “They had been pardoned to allow them to combine into society, having demonstrated adequate regret.”
Mr Lawan was convicted of receiving a $500,000 bribe from Femi Otedola, a businessman. Mr Lawan was accused of demanding $3 million to take away Mr Otedola’s companies from the record of firms indicted for gas subsidy fraud.
He represented the Bagwai/Shanono Federal Constituency of Kano State on the Home of Representatives from 1999 to 2015.
Satirically, the previous lawmaker was referred to as Mr Integrity for his assertive anti-corruption posturing within the Home.
Mr Lawan’s advert hoc committee indicted Mr Otedola’s Zenon Oil and Gasoline Ltd and plenty of different companies for fraud.
The committee mentioned Zenon Oil had fraudulently obtained over $230 million from the Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN) to import petrol below the subsidy scheme, however didn’t import the gas.
Mr Lawan later eliminated Zenon Oil’s identify from the record of indicted companies after receiving $500,000 from Mr Otedola as the primary tranche of a negotiated $3 million bribe.
Each males later claimed that they gave or obtained the cash as proof of a bribe in opposition to one another.
Nevertheless, Mr Otedola mentioned he reported to Mr Lawan’s demand to the State Safety Service (SSS), which requested him to play alongside. He mentioned the SSS organised a sting operation that captured the legislator accumulating the bribe on video.
Mr Lawan, on his half, insisted that he collected the cash as proof in opposition to Mr Otedola, however admitted he didn’t report back to any legislation enforcement company.
The workplace of the Legal professional-Normal of the Federation, although a non-public prosecutor, Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, charged Mr Lawan with the primary two counts below part 18(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act, 2000, and the third rely below part 17(1)(a) of the identical legislation.
Journey via courts
In her judgement delivered on 22 June 2021, the choose, Angela Otaluka of the FCT Excessive Court docket, convicted Mr Lawan on all three prices filed by the federal government.
In February 2022, the Court docket of Enchantment affirmed Mr Lawan’s conviction however exonerated him on two counts and diminished his seven-year imprisonment to 2 years.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court docket affirmed the conviction.
Final October, Mr Lawan was launched from jail after serving 5 years.
Together with his pardon, Mr Lawan joined the politicians jailed for corruption however controversially pardoned by the political authorities.
In 2018, former President Muhammadu Buhari pardoned two former state governors, Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, serving jail phrases for stealing public funds.
The previous governors had been amongst 159 convicted individuals whose pardon was authorized by the Council of State within the Buhari administration.
Presidential pardon or societal pardon?
In his time within the Home of Representatives, Mr Lawan led a bunch often known as the ‘Integrity Group’, which fought for the removing of the primary feminine Speaker, Patricia Etteh, and her substitute by Dimeji Bankole.
His arrest and conviction within the bribery scandal destroyed his popularity and political profession in his dwelling state of Kano, the place he was influential.
Following his launch from jail final yr, Mr Lawan was alleged to have dumped the opposition Folks’s Democratic Celebration (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a primary step in direction of a political comeback.
The presidential pardon means Mr Lawan can return to energetic politics, however observers say he additionally wants the pardon of the general public, his conviction having tarnished his popularity and standing in society.
My hope is renewed – Lawan
Moments after saying his pardon, Mr Lawan expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, describing the gesture as divine mercy.
In an announcement titled “My Hope Is Renewed, Mr President,” he mentioned the pardon signified a brand new starting in his life and a reconciliation with future.
“Mr President has solid a heat blanket over me, pulling me again from the harshness of yesterday’s chilly,” he mentioned. “A day like this isn’t for an extended treatise. I lie prostrate, completely humble in my coronary heart and full being, grateful for the mercy Allah (SWT), via Mr President and my nation, has proven me.”
Mr Lawan mentioned his religion in God and the nation remained unshaken all through his ordeal.
“Through the eclipse at midday of my life, a path designed by future, my household, mates, and associates stood by me via thick and skinny, their gentle grew to become my singular, unfailing beacon. I stay eternally indebted to you,” he said.
He mentioned the expertise had taught him classes in humility and reflection, noting that the presidential pardon had renewed his sense of goal.
“All through these moments of sober reflection, my religion within the greatness of our Fatherland by no means wavered, nor did my resolve to contribute to it ever weaken. A re-dedication to the beliefs of Nigeria is upon me. My hope is renewed,” Mr Lawan mentioned.
Council of State
The Nigerian Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian Authorities as stipulated by Third Schedule Half 1B of the 1999 Structure (as amended).
The Council’s membership contains the President, who’s Chairman; the Vice-President, who’s Deputy Chairman; all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Authorities of the Federation; all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the Home of Representatives; all of the Governors of the states of the Federation; and the Legal professional-Normal of the Federation.
The Council has the ability to:
(a) advise the President within the train of his powers with respect to the:-
(i) nationwide inhabitants census and compilation, publication and holding of data and different info in regards to the identical;
(ii) prerogative of mercy;
(iii) award of nationwide honours;
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(iv) the Impartial Nationwide Electoral Fee (together with the appointment of members of that Fee);
(v) the Nationwide Judicial Council (together with the appointment of the members, apart from ex-officio members of that Council); and
(vi) the Nationwide Inhabitants Fee (together with the appointment of members of that Fee); and
(b) advise the President each time requested to take action on the upkeep of public order inside the Federation or any half thereof and on such different issues because the President might direct.
